Porsche Cayman

The Cayman is Porsche's mid-engined sports coupe, introduced in 2005 as a fixed-roof counterpart to the open-topped Boxster. Where the Boxster was a roadster, the Cayman added a fixed fastback roof and a rear hatch while keeping the central engine placement that gives both cars their balanced weight distribution. Slotting between the entry Boxster and the rear-engined 911, it gave Porsche a hardtop sports car whose handling was consistently credited to the poise of its mid-mounted flat-six.

The first generation carried Porsche's internal code 987. The Cayman S launched with a 3.4-litre flat-six rated at 295 horsepower, while a lower-output base Cayman followed with a 2.7-litre engine producing 240 horsepower. Both sent drive to the rear wheels through a manual or automatic transmission, and both leaned on the mid-engine layout rather than outright power for their character.

Across successive generations the Cayman kept that formula, eventually adopting the 718 badge and, like the Boxster, remaining in production until 2025. Throughout its run it was positioned as a driver's car defined by chassis balance rather than headline output, a mid-engined alternative to the more famous 911 above it in the range.